Those living in tropical countries are familiar with this common malady called heat bumps or heat rash, also called prickly heat or miliaria. It’s the skin condition which develops when sweat gets trapped in the skin. Heat bumps are pin-head-sized vesicles which appear when the sweat gets retained in the epidermis.
When the sweat is trapped in the sweat glands, it encourages development of red, raised tiny heat bumps on the skin surface. The common sites of the affection is the trunk, neck, arm, and sometimes on the buttocks. Heat bumps on arm may appear together with bumps on other parts of the body.
Mostly it is not itchy if the sweat glands are clogged. However, if the deeper layer of skin is involved then itching, burning and tingling always accompanies it. Heat rash on arms may last for few days, weeks or months. The lesions develop in recurrent crops. However with medication and home remedies heat bumps can be easily treated without giving rise to any complication.
What Causes Heat Bumps On Arms?
Heat bumps on arms and elsewhere on the body are often caused due to clogged sweat glands when the sweat is unable to come to the skin surface.
- Hot and humid climate, especially in tropical countries. Both high atmospheric temperature and high humidity is responsible for prickly heat.
- Heat bumps on arms, chest and neck occurs more commonly in people who sweat profusely. Obese people also sweat profusely.
- Those who have sensitive skin and are in run down condition.
- Heat bumps are more common in infants as their sweat glands are not fully developed.
- People engaged in activities where they perspire excessively due to physical hard work.
- Wearing too tight fitting clothes which prevent air circulation.
- Wearing clothes made up of fabrics which prevent the sweat to get evaporated.
- Wearing too many clothes may invite prickly heat on arm and the trunk area.
- Prickly heat in arm is common in people living and working in hot and stuffy room without proper ventilation.
Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Heat Rash On Arms
Heat bump on arm is not a serious condition. In many cases, the condition may heal without any treatment after a period of time. However, when present in certain parts of the body such as on arm, it may become inconvenient for the person to wear clothes due to irritation and burning. In such situation medications and home remedies accelerate the healing process. Here are some of the important tips that may be helpful:
- Reduce physical activities especially in hot and humid climate.
- Eat light diet. Avoid alcohol, tea and coffee, hot and spicy food.
- Eat foods that help in lowering the body temperature. Fresh greens, citrus fruits, and green vegetables are the most suitable. Cucumber, tomatoes, orange and melons are also effective to calm the body heat.
- Take cool shower two times in a day.
- Prepare a paste by mixing sandalwood powder and rose water. Apply it daily over the heat bumps two times in a day. Its cooling and soothing effect helps to enhance healing process.
- Apply cornstarch or baking powder on the arm affected by heat bumps. You can apply either of the two after taking a cold shower.
- Aloe vera gel is also beneficial natural remedy for treating heat rash on arm. Apply the gel gently two to three times in a day.
- Wear loose fitting clothes.